Hat ironing machine and the like



Dec. 8, 1931. J. F. DQRAN HAT IRONING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Nolv. 5, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I JNVENTOR.

z smArromsy Dec. 8, 1931. D RAN 1,835,146

HAT IRONING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 5, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W 9. SM

BY Q 6, ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1931. ,F ORAN 1,835,146

HAT IRONING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed N09. 5,

s Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTOR.

BY (SMATTORNEY Patented Dec. 8, 1931 mi f JAMES FLvnoRAN, or harmony, aoonnnorrcn r; aorm'o'. DQRANEXECUTOR worsarn y I mmns rtnonmv nnomsnn a a ,I-LAT InomNeMAcHINE AND THE LIKE Application filedNovember 5, 1926. swarm-146,401.

This invention relates-to hat making or hat finishing apparatus and more particular-.-

ly to' a machine for performingupon hats an operation such as ironingt-he crownsthereof, e1- thelike. A

011s of the obj ects of the invention is to provide a machineof the above nature which highly efficient and adaptable to a wide range-of use. Another-object is to provide a machine ofthe above nature which is capa be operated upon simultaneously. Another 'object is'to providc'a inachlne of'the above nature which is simple and inexpensive-to build. Other objects will be in part obvious er-in part pointedout'hercinafter. V

The invention accordingly consists" in the features of construction, combinations of elemerits, and arrangements of parts as will-be exemplified in the structure to b'e hereinafter described and the scope'of the application of claims. r 1 p g In the accoi'npanying drawingsin' whichis shown one of the ;v-arious possible embodilnents ofthis invention, 1 5 Figure 1 is top planview of-the-ma'chine, various;parts{thereof being shown in section Figure 2 is a sectiontaken substantially along the line 22 'ofFi'gure 1; V

Figure 3 a section taken substantially aieng the line 33 o'f Figure' 2; I

F'gure 4 is-a section taken substantially along the line 4- 1 ofFi'gure h Figure 5 is a section taken substantially alongihc line 55 ofF1 gure-4L;

inent;

Figure 7 is sectiontaken substantially tially 90. "frame 12are rotatab'lysupported four shafts 17, 18, -19 a'nd20 respectively,sthese shafts whichjwill be indicated in, the following Figure 6 is a detailview' of "an adjust Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. V a

' Referringnow' to Figures 1 and'2of the drawings in detail, there is shown a base -l-O which may be ofanysuitable construction,

being "preferably mounted upon legs 11 so as to be positioned ata' convenient height from the floor; Upon the uppersurface of thisbase 10 is an upright frame 12which car:

ries four bearings 13, 14, 1'5 and l'6, these bearings being spaced preferably substan- In these -four bearings of the projecting outwardly respectively'toward the four sides ofthe frame andtheir inner ends approaching substantially at the center-of v the machine. The shafts 18, 19 and 20 are shown as having at their outer ends means for supporting hat blocks, the three blocks with hats thereon being shown at 21,?22 and 23-in-Figure 1. These hat block supporting I devices willbe described in detail later.

v Adjacent'their inner'end s, the'vshafts 17,

"erably, this shaft 29 carries at its upper end abcveled gear 31 by whichit may be driven through a beveled gear The gear 32 is secured upon a shaft 33 carried in a bracket 26 and 27.

"In the embodiment ofthis machine shown in the drawings,the shaft 17 is notprovided with means for supporting? a hatblock. as

are the shafts18,19. and'20. It will bereadi- 34 andhaving at-itsend' oppositethe gear 32 a pulley 35 or otherpower connection by -Ineans of which it maybe rotated. Frornthe description thus far, :it will be seen that the four shafts 17, 18, 1-9 and 20 may be driv ly understood, however, that the shaft 17 may be equipped as are the other three shafts, thereby making provision for supporting and rotating four hat blocks instead of three, all four shafts being rotated by the drive above described.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, there is mounted, upon what will be termed the back side of the machine, an electric motor 36 which is connected to drive the shaft 17. The drive maybe through any suitable type of speed reduction mechanism and is shown herein as comprising a worm. 37 mounted upon the armature shaft of the motor and driving a worm wheel 38 which is secured to the shaft 17 adjacent its outer end. This speed reduction is adapted to effect from the motor 36 a drive of the shafts 18, 19 and 20 at a speed suitably slow for rotating the hat blocks as the work is performed upon the hats. When the machine is driven from the motor 36 it will be seen that the drive is effected from the shaft 17 through the gear 24 to the gear 28 and from the gear 28 to the gears 25, 26 and 27 to rotate the respective shafts 18, 19 and 20.

It will be seen that the direction of rotation of the shaft 17 is opposite to that of the shaft 19, and that the direction of rotation of the shaft 18 is opposite to that of the shaft 20. This is true whether the drive of the machine be from the motor 36 or from the pulley 35. The result is that each of the hat blocks, as viewed from the front thereof, rotates in the same direction, this direction being preferably clockwise. This is important in a hat ironing machine since it i necessary that all the fibers of the fur be laid in the same predetermined direction. The hat surface must move across the iron in such direction that the ironing action acts with the so-called lay of the fur fibers. In the machine herein disclosed each of the several hats moves by the operating tool, in this case an iron, in the same direction and in the proper direction .to accommodate the originalilay of the fur fibers.

As shown in Figure 2 and also in Figure 5, the inner ends of the shafts 17 and 19 may approach closelyand their ends may be recessed axially to receive a cylindrical pin.39. This pin is received loosely in the shaft recesses and serves to steady the two shafts. It does not form a driving connection between the shafts 17 and 19, however, since, as above pointed out, those two shafts are driven in opposite directions.

Considering now the mounting of the hat blocks 21, 22 and 23 upon the outer ends of the shafts 18, 19 and 20, respectively, one of these mountings only need be described in detail, since they are preferably all identical. Referring to Figure 2, the hat block 22, which is ordinarily formed of wood, is providcd with a hub 22a in which is a central recess 22?). The outer end 19a of the shaft 19 enters the recess 22?) and centers the hat block for rotation. Positioned upon the shaft is a face plate 40 against which the base of the hat block ordinarily rests when the hat block is placed in position. A suit able device is provided for gripping the hub 22a of the hat block to hold the bloel; firmly in position while the hat is being operated upon. In the embodiment shown in the drawings there are provided jaws 41 having deeply knurled gripping surfaces capable of taking a firm hold upon the surface of the hub 22a. These jaws protrude through radial slots in the face plate 40 and are connected by a toggle linkage 42 with a collar 43. The collar 43 is threaded upon the shaft 19 and is provided with a suitable handle taking the form of a Wheel 44 by means of which it may be threaded along the shaft toward and away from the face plate 40. By turning the wheel 44 in a counter clockwise direction the jaws 41 are moved together to firmly grip the hat block, and by turning the handle in the opposite direction the hat block is released. The shaft 19 rotates but slowly and the hat blocks may be placed in position or removed while the shaft continues to rotate.

Adjacent to each of the hat block supporting devices is mounted a tool which is adapted to operate upon the hat carried by the hat block, and to move across or traverse the surface of the rotating hat. The tools shown herein are ironing tools adapted to iron the crowns of the felt hats against the blocks upon which they are supported. In the manufacture of felt hats it is the usual practice to bring the crown of the hat to shape and size by stretching the hat body tightly over the hat block, the felt being first softened by the application of steam. The hat is then secured to the block as by a cord drawn tightly around the band, and thereafter the ironing of the hat crown is performed. The felt is moistened and a heated iron is traversed over the surface thereof. The heat and pressure of the iron dries out the felt and has a tightening and felting action upon the fur fibers, causing them to enter into tighter union; at the same time the hat is tightly shrunk to the size and shape of the block and the felt is strengthened so that when the hat is subsequently removed from the block it retains its shape and size.

Referring again to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 4 an ironing tool 45 adapted to bear against and traverse over the surface of a hat carried by the hat block 21, and in Figure 1 there is shown an ironing tool 46 for the block 22 and an ironing tool 47 for the block 23. The ironing tools are traversed across the surfaces of the respective rotating hats in a path of movement extending from the band to the tip of the hat or, if 'desired,'tiromjthe;band on oneiside through the tip to the bandlonltlie opposite side. The ironing tools of thismachine move in a horizontal plane about the hat, andthe mechanism for effecting this traversing movement of the tools will presentlynbe described indetail. lnjthe drawings, each. of theirons 45, 46 and 47 is shown drawn back out of engagement with the hats The two irons 45 and 46 are shown insubstantially thesame position with" respect to-their respective hats while, for the sakeofconvenience in making the drawings, the iron'47 is shown at adiflerent position in its path of traverseq- Referringlnow to Figures 2 and 4, within the frame structure 12 and beneath the inner end of the shaft 17, is positioned a worm wheel 48 which meshes with a worm 49. This" worm 49 is secured to the shaft 17 hence driven therefrom, thus effectingrotation of the worm wheel 48 at 'reducedspeed. As shown in'Figures 2 and 5,..theworm 49 is preferably supported inpartbythe-shaiit 19,-

the shaft 19 entering freel'yjinto the hub oi the worm. Theworin gear thus aids 1n sup- 54 is reciprocated by. the link. or crank 56 and its connection with-the rack by the bracket 52. The worm wheel isprovided with a counterweight 55 for the purpose of preventing the wheel froinstoppinginsuch position that the crank 50 is on dead center.

The connection betweenthe'scrank 50 and the worm wheel 48 is formed by abolt 56 pass ing through a radial slot 57' in: the worm: wheel, as shown in Figure 2. ad ust ng. the bolt 56 in the slot 57 toward andv away fromthe center of the worm wheel, the length of the reciprocations imparted to the rack54 may be adjusted. ;I1 1;r-igare54 the worm wheelisshown in a different angular position to more clearly. show the bolt 56 and the slot 57. As shown in this figure, there is pref-.

erably provided oirt'he worm wheel 48a screw 58 to facilitate making adjustments of theconnection between the cranlnand the worm wheel and to loelcthe parts in the position to which they are adjusted. This screw-58 passes through a lug-48w onthe worm wheel and engages the surface of a:collar;59.which is positioned-about the bolt "56 between the worm wheel and the crank 50.

The worm wheel 48-is rotatably mounted and carried in an arm 60: which is pivoted at one end 1n. the-frame .12, as shown atv 61 in Figure 2. Thisarin 60 may be swung aboutv the pivot. 61 to move the worm wheel downwardly out v0t engagement with the worm gear 49, thereby to interrupt the drive of the rack 54. The arm 60 at its end opposite from thew pivot 61 is supported by a part 62, this part 62 beingcarried in a depending member 63 and being vertically adjustable therein by an t'adjusting screw 64. These parts are shown in Figure '2 and in: Figure 3. The member 63is swiveled at'its upper endon an eccentric 65 of a part 66 which is rotat ably mounted in theirame 12 just beneath the bearing 15. This part 66 is provided with a handle'67 by means of which it :maybe rotated to turn the eccentric 65 and raise or lower the member 63: Thus by operating the handle 67 the member 63 may be lowered to permit the worm wheel48 to dropout of en-' gagementrwith the worm gear 49, thereby to interrupt the drive of the rack 54. The

screw 64 isadjustedto such. a point that,

when the member 63 israised bythe eccentric, the worm wheel 18 inproper drlving engagenientwith the worm gear.

The reciprocating rack 54 is connected to efi'ect the traverse ofthe iron 46 across the surface of the rotating hat on the block 22 by mechanism which will be described presenty, this drive being imparted to the iron by he rack teeth 54aadjacent the outer end of the racln. As may be seen in Figure 1, the

slidablc rack which extends at right angles to the rack 54. This reel: 70 is shown more clearly 1nF1g-ure 4.

As the rack 54 is reciprocated by the worm wheel 48 and crank 50, 1t turns the gear 68 and therebyeii'ects reciprocation of the rack 70 in a horizontal path at right angles to the horizontal path of reciprocation of the rack 54. The rack 70 is adapted, through con nections which will, be described, to impart the traversing movement of the two ironing tools 45 and 47. g 7' r As is shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ironing zool 46 supported, by a construct-ion which will be described, at theouter end of an arm 71. .T his ar1n7l is swiveled at its inner end about a vertical axis in, a bracket 72 extendingoutward-ly' from the frame 10 beneath the hat block 22;; Preferably the arm 71 is provided with adownwardly extending spindie 7 which issuitably supported by antifrictionmeans in'the bracket 72. Thearm is also provided with a gear 74 which meshes with the teeth 54a of the rack 54. Thus, as the rack 54 is reciproca-ted by the crank, the arm 71 is swung about the axis of the spindle 73, and this movement effects the traverse of the ironing tool 46 across the hat surface, as will be described.

In similar manner, as shown best in Figure 4, the ironing tool 47 is carried at the outer end of an arm 75 which is swiveled in a bracket 7 6, and the ironing tool 45 is carried at the outer end of an arm 77 which is swiveled in a bracket 78. Also, the arm 75 is provided with a gear 79 similar to the gear 74 of the arm 71, and the arm 77 is provided with a similar gear 80.

As shown in Figure 4, the gear 79 is engaged by a rack 81 and the gear 80 is engaged by a rack 82. These two racks 81 and 82 are adjustably secured. to the rack by bolts 83 and 84 respectively. These bolts are secured in the rack 70 and pass through slots in the respective racks 81 and 82. Thus, as the rack 70 is reciprocated, the arms and 77 are turned in their swiveled mountings to effect the traverse of the respective tools 47 and 45 across the surfaces of the hats carried by the hat blocks 23 and 21. The adjustable connections between the rack 70 and the racks 81 and 82 permit independent adjustment of the motion imparted to the ironing tools 45 and 47 by the reciprocations of the rack 70.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the three ironing tools 45, 46 and 47 are given their traversing movements from the central driving means embodied in the worm wheel 48 and the crank 50. The rack 54 which effects the traversing movement of the tool 46 is driven directly from the crank 50. The reciprocations of this rack 54. through the gear 68, effect reciprocation of the rack 70 which. through the racks 81 and 82 connected thereto. effect the traversing movements of the tools 47 and 45. It will be seen that this arrangement is exceedingly simple and compact and 'of great advantage in that a number of hats may be operated upon at one time with a minimum expenditure of floor space. Also the machine is so arranged that it is attended by the operator with the greatest convenience and efliciency.

The mountings of the ironing tools 45, 4 6 and 47 at the outer ends of the respective arms 7 7 71 and 75 are preferably substantially identical so that one only need be described in detail, similar reference characters being applied to similar parts in the drawings. Considering the structure at the outer end of the arm 71, for example, referring to Figure 1, there is swiveled at 85 a horizontal arm 86'. Adjacent the outer end of this arm 86 the iron 46 is carried. The arm 86 is urged to swing inwardly toward the hat about its pivot 85 by suitable means acting through a cable 87. The arm is shown held away from the hat against the action of the cable 87, the iron 46 being thus in an inoperative position. The iron is held in this inoperative position, when not in use, by a vertical pin 88 which is carried in a lug 89 formed on the lever 86. In the end portion 71a of the arm 71 is provided a hole into which this pin drops by gravity or other suitable means to hold the parts in the position shown in the drawings. A handle 90 is provided by means of which the arm 86 may be swung about its pivot 85. To move the iron into engagement with the hat, the pin 88 is lifted from engagement with the hole in the part 71a, and the pull of the cable 87 then swings the iron about the pivot 85 into engagement with the surface of the hat.

The mounting of one of the irons upon the end portion of its lever 86 is best shown in Figure 4, the iron here shown being the iron 45. Referring to this figure, clamped in a bracket 86a of the arm 86 is an upright member 91 which preferably takes the form of a hollow pipe through which electric wiring 92 may be passed to supply energy for heating the iron. The iron is carried directly by an upright member 93 to which the iron is swiveled by a horizontal pin 94. This upright member 93 is swiveled at its lower end in the end portion of the arm 86, and at its upper end it is supported to turn freely in a bracket 95 carried at the upper end of the pipe 91. The iron 45 is permitted to swivel about the horizontal axis of the pin 94 as it traverses the surface of the oval hat. Because of this swiveling and also the swiveling about the vertical axis of the part 93, the iron is permitted to accommodate itself to the curves of the oval hat. In order to keep the iron 45 normally in an upright position and to prevent the weight of the iron from causing it to swing over at an angle about its pivot 94, there is provided an adjustable compression spring 96 which yieldingly bears against the rear surface of the iron beneath the pivot 94.

In Figure 4 there is shown clearly the cable 87 by which the'iron is urged to swing about the pivot 85 and bear against the surface of the hat. This cable is shown as passing around a roller 97 which is mounted upon a vertical pin adjacent to, the pivot of the arm 77. After passing around the roller 97. the cable passes over a roller 98 and thence downwardly through the hollow spindle 7 The cable supports at its lower end (not shown) suitable weights which may be re movable and interchangeable to vary the pressure with which the iron is urged against the hat. The rollers 97 and 98 permit the cable to operate freely without friction. an d they properly guide the cable at all positions of the arm 77 as it swivels in its hearing.

The cable 87 acts upon the iron through a member 99 whichis adj ustablv secured to i the upright part 93 hy-a set screw 100. This memher-99-is provided with a plurality of radially proj ectingfingers 101; r 102 and 108,

these fingers being shaped 1 to receive a knot the end of" the cable 87; The cable 'isshown in'Figure 4a a s-connec-tedto -the' -finger 103': By adjusting the-memben99 aboutthe of the part 93, the ca-ble is made to act HPOllf the-part 93 through an arm of force whieh tends to tip the iron-about theaxis of the part 93 in one directiono'r-Janotheri as the -iron oper ates upon the side portions or npon thesquare-"--of--the hat: The'fin gers- 1-0 1, 102 and l03" are-of diife're nt lengths overthe square 0fthe-hati 1 1 The purpose of the ad'ustment hetween the crank 50 and the'-worm-whee'l 4:8-'will now be more apparent. By varying this connection F by meansof the hol't -56' ini the slot of theworrn wheel, the length of reeiprocations of thegracks is determined"and hence the lengths of the paths of movement oftheseveral irons over-the*hats: This adjustment: may be made such that 'irons will travel fromrthe band -of the hat 'on one fside; acrossthe tip and to the band onthe-othenside; or

theadjustment 'may 'be made such that the iron travels between any two intermediate points Moreover, itv willbeseen that this one adjustment between the worm wheel and" the crank determines the path of movement of all of; the ironing tools.

rack 54. makes itdpossibleito' adjust the starting point of, the traversemovement of the iron and hencethe locus of: the traverse for any given. length ithereof; Ordinarilyv the f traverse is started at the band; "11 1 some cases-it is desirable that the" iron: traverse from theband to the tip-and'thenreturnto its startingpoint while in other cases it: is desirable that the iron traverse frornthe band on one side to the band on theotherr SldGTIfLHCl? return Itawilli be seen that the machine is. adjustableto meet varyin'g requirements. Inr' additionyto these adjustments just discussed, the adjustable connections} between'the rack and the: racks 81 and 82 maKe'it possible; to adjust the'locus.

ofgthe traverse of thetwontools 45 and 47- independently of each other and independently'ofthe'tool 46. ,1 I

As shown in Figure land in Figure 7, there; is providedin;each of the face plates A0 a projecting pin 105 which takes. into a recess 1040f the hat block, this pin determining the 1 "angular positions of the major. and minor.

The adjustment of the-:braoket- 52 along-the axes" ofthe hat block. 'Ihe-recess 10 lis positionedonthe line of the maj or-axis. As

shown'in Figure 'l', the face plate 4:0 is provided with a plurality of threadedo'penings' lOGeach-oi which is capable of receiving the threaded pin-1'05. 1

As the hatsare being ironed; the ironyis preterably urged against thehat blockwith-' considerable pressure. When the iron is operating upon the sides I of the hat, asthe ends of thehat approach the iron the hat is re quired to i *force the "iron outwardly, and as the ends recede;= from the ironthe-ironmoves inwardlyf and tends-'to-assist the r0ta tion=of the hat instead of impending it: Byadjusting the pins 105 on the respective face platesthe rotationof theseveralhats in this machine inay be so*related that while the' ro 'tation of-one hat is impeded because, offexerta ling pressure to force the iron outwardly, the

rotation oft-{another hat is aided-byreason of the iron acting thereon. In other words,

the several hat blocksare 'so adjusted that no two hjatsare required to force their ironsout wardljv at the same time." Since the; several shafts upon w hiehthe hats-are mounted are all ge ared: to gether; the aid e'njt'o rotation I by one iron helps to rotate theother hat or hat-s which may befatthat moment required? to force their-irons outwardly. In thisman nor the operation ofthemachine i's 'ma de smoother and more even and" the? power ire quiredto rotate the several haebloc'ks is very appreeiablyreducedi Eromthe foregolng1t" will be seen that there is herein- 1 provided a machine 1 whichachieves the objects ofthisinvention ,andfae complishes results of obvlous practical-value: ALmaXimum amount ofworkis' accomplished quired being cut to a 'm'iniinum, the power employedi' in driving the machine beingmost eifieiently used Iv andthe machine as a? whole being arranged for: convenient" and attendance by the operator.

As many possible embodiments "maybe changes might be made in the embodiment aboveaset forth it, is to be undersced that: all? matter hereinbefore set forth or shown-in the accompanying! drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not? in: a limiting sense.

I claimasmvinventionur V I 1 li' 'ljma maeh'ne ofthech raet er described,

- in ieoin-bina-tion, a frame, plurality of, de-

vices; for: rotatahly supporting hat blocks positioned'at'angu'larly spacedpoints on said' frame, a vplural ityiof toolsgone adjacentto? eachof said rhat blocks,ia:1driven shaft, means driven rfrom sa-idishaftzadaptedgtogrotate said? hat blocks, a wheel driven from saidishaft; a: cranle driven from: said.- wheel; a rack ,re-

eiproeated by said crank andgaoonnectedw to; move one otsaid tools aerossthesurface-of: the! rotating hail tbloek iadj aeent theretoiqandi niadeo-f the aboveinvention and: as many other reciprocating racks angularly disposed with respect to said first rack and driven from said first rack adapted to move said other tools.

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a frame, a plurality of devices for rotatably supporting hat blocks positioned at angularly spaced points about said frame, driving means for rotating all of said devices a plurality of tools, one adj acent to each of said hat blocks, means for rotating said hat blocks all in the same direction relative to the respective tools, angularly disposed means adapted to move each of said tools back and forth in a path of traverse across the surface of the rotating hat block adjacent thereto, and a single adjustment for adjusting the lengths of the paths of traverse of all of said tools.

3. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a frame, a plurality of devices for rotatably supporting hat blocks positioned at spaced points about said frame, a plurality of tools, one adjacent to each of said hat blocks, means for rotating said hat blocks all in the same direction relative to the respective tools, means adapted to move each of said tools back and forth in a path of traverse across the surface of the rotating hat block adjacent thereto, and means for adjusting simultaneously the loci of the traverses of all of said tools.

4. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a frame, a plurality of devices for rotatably supporting hat blocks positioned at spaced points about said frame, a plurality of tools, one adjacent to each of said hat blocks, means for rotating said hat blocks in a clockwise direction relative to the respective tools, means adapted to move each of said tools back and forth in a path of traverse across the surface of the rotating hat block adjacent thereto, and means for adjusting the locus of the traverse of one of said tools independently of the locus of the traverse of another of said tools.

5. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a plurality of devices for supporting oval hat blocks, means for rotating said hat blocks, a plurality of irons adapted to iron the crowns of hats carried by said rotating hat blocks, one iron being provided for each hat block, means for rotating said hat blocks and means for yieldingly holding each of said irons inwardly toward its respective hat block, and means for determining the angular relation between said hat blocks whereby when a side portion of one thereof is moving toward its iron a side portion of another is moving away from its iron.

6. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a plurality of shafts, a plurality of devices for supporting oval hat blocks, one of said devices being positioned at the end portion of each of said shafts to be rotated thereby, a common driving means for rotating said shafts, a plurality of irons adapted to iron the crowns of hats carried by said hat blocks, means yieldingly holding each of said irons inwardly toward its respective hat block, and means for determining the angular position of the major and minor axes of each of said hat blocks with relation to the shaft by which it is driven, said means being adjustable for each hat block independently of the others.

7. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a pair of devices for supporting hat blocks, a. pair of tools, one adjacent each of said hat blocks and adapted to operate upon a hat carried thereby, means for rotating said hat blocks in the same direction relative to the adjacent tool, a reciprocating member, a mechanism adapted upon actuation to move one of said tools in a path of traverse back and forth across the rotating hat block adjacent thereto, a second mechanism adapted upon actuation to move the other of said tools in a path of traverse back and forth across the surface of the rotating hat block adjacent thereto, a driving connection between said reciprocating member and said first mechanism, and a driving connection between said reciprocating member and said second mechanism, said driving connection being independently adjustable for independently adjusting the loci of the traverses of said two tools.

8. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a centrally disposed driving member, a plurality of shafts for supporting oval hat blocks angularly disposed with respect to said driving member and operatively engaging said driving member at angularly spaced points thereon, a plurality of irons adapted to iron the crowns of hats carried by said hat blocks, one iron being provided for each block and each mounted to be forcefully pressed outwardly from the center of said block by contact with said hat as the latter passes from a side thereof to an end thereof under the iron and to press against said hat with substantially equal force when said hat passes from an end to a side thereof under said iron, and means for adjusting the angular position ofeach of said hat blocks upon its shaft to balance the composite effect of the outwardly and inwardly acting forces upon said driving member.

9. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a plurality of shafts, a plurality of devices for supporting oval hat blocks, one of said devices being positioned upon each of said shafts to be rotated thereby, a common driving means for rotating said shafts, a plurality of tools adapted to perform work upon the crowns of hats carried by said hat blocks, one tool being provided for each hat block, means yieldingly holding each of said tools inwardly against a hat carried upon its associated hat block whereby rotation of the hat block is alternately resisted and assisted by the inward thrust of the tool as its position relative to the minor and Inajor axes of thehat block changes, and means 7 for determining the angular positions of the minor and major axes of each of said hat blocks with relation to its shaft, whereby the effect of the thrust of one of said tools upon the action of said driving means will be at all times substantially neutralized by the effectof the thrust of the other tools thereon.

10. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a frame, a plurality of shafts positioned in angular relation to one another and projecting outwardly from said frame for rotatably supporting hat blocks, a plurality of tools, one adjacent to each of said hat blocks, a drive shaft, means driven from said drive shaft adaptedto rotate said hat block supporting shafts all in the same direction in relation to the respective tools a plurality of relatively angularly disposed racks, means adapted to be driven by one of said angularly disposed shafts for reciprocating all of said racks,,and atoolsupport driven by each of said racks adapted to move its respective tool across the surface of a rotating hat block'adjacent thereto.

11. In a machine of the. character described, in combination, a frame, a pair of outwardly extending shafts rotatably mounted in said frame in end-to-end alignment, an outwardly extending shaft disposed at right angles to said pair of shafts, a driving means positioned in operative relation to the adja- 7 cont ends of all of said shaftsand connected to rotate all of said shafts, means adjacent the outer end of each of said shafts adapted to support a hat block for rotation by its respective shaft, a plurality oftools for op erating upon hats carried by said hat blocks, one of said tools being positioned adjacent the outer end of each of said shafts, an opcrating means for all of said tools mounted upon the adjacent ends of said pair of shafts and secured to one of said shafts, and means driven by said last means for causing each of said tools to traverse the surface of its respective hat.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 22nd day of October, 1926.

' JAMES F. DORAN. 

